Improvement in basket-bottoms



S. H. W H EELE R.

Basket-Bottom.

PatentedOct. 26,1875.

N0.I69,2l7.

llillillll llllll! Ewen/ 3m" N.PETERS, FNOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

SHEPHERD H. WHEELER, OF PERU, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BASKET-BOTTOMS.'

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,2!7, dated October 26, 1875; application filed September 9, 1875.

CASE B.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHEPHERD H. WHEEL- ER, of Peru, Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in Basket-Bottoms, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of this invention relates to the construction of basket-bottoms; and consists in placing a rib or central support at the center of the bottom, between the layers of splints or staves, thus forming a nucleus, to which the staves may be attached by means of caps and rivet, the object being to secure a bottom smooth alike on the outside and inside, and one of cheap and easy construction.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification, and shows, in Figure 1, a

plan view of a device embodying my inven-' tion; and Fig. 2 shows a vertical transverse section through the diameter of the same, the bottom being inverted in this figure;

Letters of reference in the drawing denote the parts indicated by a similar letter in the written parts of this specification, of which- A A represent the splints or staves. These staves are tapered at their inner ends, so as to fit edge to edge in each layer, (of which there must be two or more,) and extend from' the center of the bottom to the top rim on all sides; but I prefer to use four layers in the bottom, with two above and two below the rib B. This rib is made thin at its extremities, and for a bushel basket should be about ten inches-long, three inches wide, and onefourth of an inch thick at the center, forming a central support or nucleus, to which the staves A A are attached by means of the metal caps O 0, one on the under and one on the upper side, and secured to the rib with the rivet D.

I am aware that ribs have been applied to the exterior of basket-bottoms; but by placing the rib between the layers of staves, as described, and then confining the staves between the base-hoops E E, in the usual manner, a much smoother bottom is produced, and there is less liability for the rib to become detached.

The accompanying drawing shows only that part of the basket to which my improvement is confined, and as I construct the remainder of the basket in the usual manner it will need no further description here.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is The above-described basket-bottom, having the rib'B at the center, between the layers of staves A A, and secured by means of the caps O G, rivet D, and hoops E E, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

SHEPHERD H. WHEELER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. MOWBRAY, OLARENoE R. IRWIN. 

